Happy Hour: A Staged Reading of Short Plays Set in Bars
Curated by Maria Burnham
Playwrights: Amy Biancolli, Julie Brandon, Haz Cady, Enid Cokinos, Greg Cummings, Allison Ristaino, Wyn Alyse Thomas and Emily Turner
Directors: Maria Burnham, Courtney Marie, Leanna Gianoutsos Oliveira, Holly Robison, Zoe Sjogerman, John Gleason Teske, Alexis Vaselopulos and Lo Williams
In October, Ghostlight Ensemble will present the second installment of Happy Hour — a staged reading series made up of short plays with one thing in common, they’re all set in bars. The setting for this event will be, naturally, a bar. So, join us as at My Buddy’s as we raise a glass to that oldest of human inspiration: spirits in a glass.
Happy Hour features a mix of writers from the greater Chicago area, but also submissions from across the Midwest as well as the coasts.
The seven stories that make up the show include tales of new loves, old loves, connections new and old, grief, joy and Bigfoot.
Selected scripts include:
Antisocial Medium by Amy Biancolli. A flirty dude eyeballs a medium sitting in a bar with a margarita after a long day. Seeing into the future, she knows he's about to come on to her, and she just wants to be left alone. She also knows his wife is about to text him asking where he is. To make matters worse his late mom and brother are worried about him and standing behind him. He's startled and distressed; but the medium has a hopeful message for him from the beyond. Directed by John Gleason Teske. Starring: David Coupe and Sydney Ray.
Bathroom Line by Wyn Alyse Thomas. Vanessa, a lesbian, shares sapphic dating advice with Hillary, a bisexual woman who has never dated a woman, in the line to the bathroom of a bar where Hillary's boyfriend has abandoned her. Directed by Lo Williams. Starring: Gloria Alvarez and Jaeda Mason.
Breaking Up by Emily Turner. A couple wrestles with some unfinished business right after breaking up. Directed by Leanna Gianoutsos Oliveira. Starring: Marley Doakes and Gustavo Duran.
The Corner Bar by Julie Brandon. Closing time at Phil and Margie's bar is the same every night. Two of the regulars never want to leave but tonight, they're joined by a stranger who may just change their lives, unless a mistake has been made. Directed by Holly Robison. Starring: Liz Cloud, Tom Goodwin, Khnemu Menu-Ra, Jessye Mueller and Chad Wise.
Don't Text Roger by Greg Cummings. Marylin is confused. She quit her job, dumped her boyfriend, and returned to her childhood hometown, and doesn’t know why. Janet, her best friend from childhood, believes she has the answer: a blind date with Bigfoot. Directed by Zoe Sjogerman. Starring: Kelly Levander and Martina Logan.
George’s Daughter by Allison Ristaino. At a bar in our not-so-distant future, a bartender expounds his views of A.I. to the owner’s daughter, Lisa, whom he’s been asked to look after. Except the owner doesn’t have a daughter. Directed by Courtney Marie. Starring: Jonas Hennington, Jonathan Perkins and Makenna Van Raalte.
Runners by Haz Cady. Greg and Grace meet at a bar on Valentine’s Day, but neither is looking for love. Nothing scares them more. Directed by Maria Burnham. Starring: Donaldson Cardenas and Christine Marie.
Straight Up with a Twist by Enid Cokinos. When Olivia asks Helen, a retired librarian and wannabe mystery writer, to join her for a drink and a chat about an exciting new career opportunity, the conversation takes some unexpected turns. Can Olivia convince Helen to join her growing—albeit bizarre—organization, or does Helen remain on the straight and narrow? Directed by Alexis Vaselopulos. Starring: Cat Hermes, Khnemu Menu-Ra and Gayle Starr.
Details
Where: My Buddy’s (4416 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640)
When: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
What time: 7 p.m.
How Much: Suggested minimum donation of $5 at the door that will help pay for our upcoming mainstage show Angry Fags (that is not set in a bar).